Compare towns
Durham vs Madison vs Durham
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Connecticut.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Durham has the youngest population (median age 45.5).
Madison has the most people working from home (30.2%).
Durham has the most affordable homes ($402k median).
What matters to you?
Pick a few. We’ll pull those rows to the top and mark which town comes out ahead on each. There’s no overall score: what matters is up to you.
| Measure | Durham | Madison | Durham |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 7,208 |
17,616Highest |
3,347Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | — | — | +28.6% CT: +0.9% |
| Median age | 45.5±2.8Lowest 11% above CT |
51.9±1.9Highest 26% above CT |
47.9±5.4 17% above CT |
| Madison and Durham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 16.4%±3.6 CT: 20.2% |
18.1%±2.2Highest CT: 20.2% |
15%±4.6Lowest CT: 20.2% |
| Madison and Durham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 17.4%±3.7Lowest CT: 18.5% |
25.2%±2.4Highest CT: 18.5% |
19.1%±4.5 CT: 18.5% |
| Madison and Durham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 47.9% CT: 42.5% |
72.4%Highest CT: 42.5% |
42.4%Lowest CT: 42.5% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.6%±1.5Lowest CT: 7.1% |
5.9%±1.5Highest CT: 7.1% |
4.2%±2.1 CT: 7.1% |
| Madison and Durham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $158,857±$7k 66% above CT |
$167,442±$16kHighest 75% above CT |
$152,396±$32kLowest 59% above CT |
| Madison and Durham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $424,800±$23k 16% above CT |
$583,900±$30kHighest 59% above CT |
$401,700±$32kLowest 9% above CT |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,154±$448Lowest 22% below CT |
$2,025±$741Highest 36% above CT |
$1,625±$1k 9% above CT |
| Madison and Durham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $7,998 20% above CT |
$8,843Highest 33% above CT |
$7,107Lowest 7% above CT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 44.9%±28.4 CT: 52.6% |
44%±12.3Lowest CT: 52.6% |
57.7%±35Highest CT: 52.6% |
| Durham and Durham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 3.4%Lowest CT: 10% |
3.6% CT: 10% |
6.1%Highest CT: 10% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 93.2%Highest CT: 66.5% |
90.4% CT: 66.5% |
90%Lowest CT: 66.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1976Highest 9 yrs newer than CT |
1976Highest 9 yrs newer than CT |
1975Lowest 8 yrs newer than CT |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 23 minLowest 13% below CT |
30 minHighest 12% above CT |
24 min 10% below CT |
| Work from home | 20.5%±6.4 CT: 16% |
30.2%±5.3Highest CT: 16% |
20%±6.7Lowest CT: 16% |
| Madison and Durham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Schools | |||
| Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading | #88 of 149 in CT | #7 of 149 in CT | #88 of 149 in CT |
| School district | Regional School District 13 | Madison School District | — |
| High school in town | Coginchaug Regional High School | Daniel Hand High School | — |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 8.9Lowest |
9.8Highest |
— |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in History | None yet | None yet | None yet |
CT average · Sources: U.S. Census Bureau, American Community Survey 5-year estimates 2020–2024; 2010 & 2020 decennial census; NCES Common Core of Data. “±” is the Census margin of error. Property tax is top-coded by the Census at $10,000+. School rank compares math and reading proficiency against the state average.